When we got back from the site, there was WATERMELON waiting for us! What a sweet and refreshing treat! This we could certainly get used to.
Kelly Gerlings
DWC Student Team Leader
Nepal, May 2013
May 13, 2013
May 11: First full day on the work site
This was our first full day of work at the site. It was also a day off of school, so the yard was quite quiet. We carried bricks on our heads like the women do (not nearly as much as they do, and not quite as efficiently, but not too bad after all!) and worked on the walls. It was a super hot day, as most of them are shaping up to be, so we tried our best to stay cool....or at least drink enough water. We are working with a few of the girls CP supports, as well as a handful of mothers and two very friendly local construction workers. You can tell that all of them have quite the groove and are used to working together. The women and girls are so strong and just work work work whenever there are tasks to do. It is wonderful and inspiring to watch!
When we got back from the site, there was WATERMELON waiting for us! What a sweet and refreshing treat! This we could certainly get used to.
Kelly Gerlings
DWC Student Team Leader
Nepal, May 2013
When we got back from the site, there was WATERMELON waiting for us! What a sweet and refreshing treat! This we could certainly get used to.
Kelly Gerlings
DWC Student Team Leader
Nepal, May 2013
May 10, 2013
May 10: A warm welcome and introduction to classroom construction
We woke up and had breakfast in the dining room before heading out in our excellent rusty Jeep that will be our transportation for our work days on the site. We were all wide eyes and exclamations at the goats and bumps in the road, taking in each new turn and bend, waving happily to the curious villagers.
We turned around another corner and stopped by what seemed like a big procession. Dinesh got out of the truck and told us to jump out as well, because this was our welcome to the site. All our faces were varying shades of shock and surprise and emotion, not quite sure what to make of this amount of genuine welcome. Even now we are having trouble trying to describe it because of how very emotional it was for all of us. We received a tikka of purple dust on our foreheads and wreaths of hibiscus and magnolias around our necks from the first (beautifully dressed) women, and then proceeded to get smeared on the face and have more flowers pressed into our hands. Everyone called out namaste and the school children were gathered smilingly around. Somebody beat a drum behind us, a different sounding drum, Nepali-sounding, beautiful.
Pictures were taken, hands were held and laughter exchanged when we introduced ourselves with "mero naam .... ho". We asked Dinesh to thank everyone for us, but it was almost impossible to gather the words necessary to express what was going through us all.
We met the teachers in the school (7 of 28 are female...not too bad a ratio) and then started our brick moving process. It was not just us for long, though, as groups of students made a brick-brigade to help us out. We are going to be working on the second floor of the classroom, building walls, laying bricks and then will help out in the English classes so the students can "get more comfortable talking to white people".
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Our first lunch on the site was this super delicious rice pudding and spicy potato curry mixture prepared by some of the women from one of the mother's groups that CP supports. We stopped in on the Dang office for CPN and met some of the women who are responsible for making scarves, which are then sold via the website/company UNAKO. Dinesh told us all about the details of micro financing and the way CP specifically funcations for these mother's groups. It has been such a learning experience so far to see how they work and what challenges CP faces.
We arrived back at our hotel after another fabulously bumpy ride and all scattered to our rooms to reflect on what we just experienced....and also try to wash our faces because the pink would make for an interesting sunburn had we kept it.
Dinner was roti instead of rice, so the second of our two options for food at this hotel. None of us mind too much so far, because everything is prepared and served so respectfully. Plus the wifi here is strangely enough quite reliable and we have the option of A/C when the power is on. This makes for a very excellent stay!
Kelly Gerlings
DWC Student Team Leader
Nepal, May 2013
We turned around another corner and stopped by what seemed like a big procession. Dinesh got out of the truck and told us to jump out as well, because this was our welcome to the site. All our faces were varying shades of shock and surprise and emotion, not quite sure what to make of this amount of genuine welcome. Even now we are having trouble trying to describe it because of how very emotional it was for all of us. We received a tikka of purple dust on our foreheads and wreaths of hibiscus and magnolias around our necks from the first (beautifully dressed) women, and then proceeded to get smeared on the face and have more flowers pressed into our hands. Everyone called out namaste and the school children were gathered smilingly around. Somebody beat a drum behind us, a different sounding drum, Nepali-sounding, beautiful.
Pictures were taken, hands were held and laughter exchanged when we introduced ourselves with "mero naam .... ho". We asked Dinesh to thank everyone for us, but it was almost impossible to gather the words necessary to express what was going through us all.
We met the teachers in the school (7 of 28 are female...not too bad a ratio) and then started our brick moving process. It was not just us for long, though, as groups of students made a brick-brigade to help us out. We are going to be working on the second floor of the classroom, building walls, laying bricks and then will help out in the English classes so the students can "get more comfortable talking to white people".
.jpg)
Our first lunch on the site was this super delicious rice pudding and spicy potato curry mixture prepared by some of the women from one of the mother's groups that CP supports. We stopped in on the Dang office for CPN and met some of the women who are responsible for making scarves, which are then sold via the website/company UNAKO. Dinesh told us all about the details of micro financing and the way CP specifically funcations for these mother's groups. It has been such a learning experience so far to see how they work and what challenges CP faces.
We arrived back at our hotel after another fabulously bumpy ride and all scattered to our rooms to reflect on what we just experienced....and also try to wash our faces because the pink would make for an interesting sunburn had we kept it.
Dinner was roti instead of rice, so the second of our two options for food at this hotel. None of us mind too much so far, because everything is prepared and served so respectfully. Plus the wifi here is strangely enough quite reliable and we have the option of A/C when the power is on. This makes for a very excellent stay!
Kelly Gerlings
DWC Student Team Leader
Nepal, May 2013
May 9: Dubsteppin' to the project site
The bus ride: 10 hours of dusty, bumpy roads, some beautiful scenery and A LOT of goats. It was hilarious because we were all a little bit delirious from dehydration and lack of bathroom breaks. Our kind bus driver bought us an English Music Volume 2 CD and a Linkin Park music video DVD. We were listening to dubstep as we travelled through tea hills and forests. We arrived in Lamahi just as the sun was setting, threw down our bags and ran to the roof of our small, family owned hotel. We had tea on the roof which was lovely as there was a nice breeze to cool us off from the really really hot weather (about 38 degrees). We went to bed, ready for our worksite orientation the next day.
Kelly Gerlings
DWC Student Team Leader
Nepal, May 2013
May 8, 2013
May 8: Monkey Temple and Taxi Rides
Today we went to the "monkey temple", which involved us taking a taxi and being on the driving side of the busy roads. What a hoot and a holler, literally because of the amount of car-honk-speak going on.
Amongst people selling things (as there always seems to be), we climbed a million plus stairs to the top of the temple. What a phenomenal view from the top! With monkeys crawling about and prayer flags flapping, you could see the whole of Kathmandu Valley through the haze (which was less than usual due to the short burst of rainstorm last night).
We spent some time wandering the temple/platform area and then had lunch at a terrace cafe on the edge of the cliff. Kothey momos were the name of the game...part fries, part steamed, and totally delicious.
Pictures just can't capture the colours and view from that temple area, looking out over all the apartments and streets. How insignificant we are, and how we need to be reminded of it sometimes. Surrounded by Buddhist and Hindu worshipers, and large hills on the horizon, looking at the small places we live...wonderful.
We returned to the hotel and have just received word that we will be leaving to Dang tomorrow! There was the chance of a strike for the next three days that would have taken out public transportation options, but Dinesh has told is that we will be leaving anyways! Wahoo! Here is to a 12 hour bus ride and some rural living!
Not sure when we will have wifi enough to submit a blog, but we will keep writing and submit the posts once we have enough service.
Time for the next adventure!
DWC Student Team
Nepal May 2013
Amongst people selling things (as there always seems to be), we climbed a million plus stairs to the top of the temple. What a phenomenal view from the top! With monkeys crawling about and prayer flags flapping, you could see the whole of Kathmandu Valley through the haze (which was less than usual due to the short burst of rainstorm last night).
We spent some time wandering the temple/platform area and then had lunch at a terrace cafe on the edge of the cliff. Kothey momos were the name of the game...part fries, part steamed, and totally delicious.
Pictures just can't capture the colours and view from that temple area, looking out over all the apartments and streets. How insignificant we are, and how we need to be reminded of it sometimes. Surrounded by Buddhist and Hindu worshipers, and large hills on the horizon, looking at the small places we live...wonderful.
We returned to the hotel and have just received word that we will be leaving to Dang tomorrow! There was the chance of a strike for the next three days that would have taken out public transportation options, but Dinesh has told is that we will be leaving anyways! Wahoo! Here is to a 12 hour bus ride and some rural living!
Not sure when we will have wifi enough to submit a blog, but we will keep writing and submit the posts once we have enough service.
Time for the next adventure!
DWC Student Team
Nepal May 2013
May 7, 2013
May 7: A Colourful Day at the Garden Of Dreams
We ventured out on our own today to the Garden of Dreams for a wonderful shady break in the middle of this beautifully chaotic city. Everyone is getting along fantastically so far--we are all very excited for what the next three weeks will bring us!
We had lunch at a great place just around the corner, sitting under a shady canopy and chatting. The amount of time that everything takes to happen in Nepal is actually wonderful: it gives us time to enjoy our tea in the morning and just generally each other's company and conversation.
Our feet took us through narrow, narrow streets and into a busy market square, past colourful bags of spices and rices and other things nice-s. We stumbled upon a beautiful temple, whose sign "followers of all religions welcome" invited us in. There were pigeons...everywhere...(Anna and Chelsea were blessed with 'good luck' from them) and all these intricate details on the shrines that looked like they were moving because of the pigeon-coating. An Indian man took us around and explained parts of the place of worship to us, glad to be able to practice his English with us.
Kelly's strangely good sense of direction brought us home, where we had a hilarious dinner just at the hotel. We sat and talked and laughed for a few hours straight before calling it a successful, colourful day.
DWC Student Team
Nepal May 2013
We had lunch at a great place just around the corner, sitting under a shady canopy and chatting. The amount of time that everything takes to happen in Nepal is actually wonderful: it gives us time to enjoy our tea in the morning and just generally each other's company and conversation.
Our feet took us through narrow, narrow streets and into a busy market square, past colourful bags of spices and rices and other things nice-s. We stumbled upon a beautiful temple, whose sign "followers of all religions welcome" invited us in. There were pigeons...everywhere...(Anna and Chelsea were blessed with 'good luck' from them) and all these intricate details on the shrines that looked like they were moving because of the pigeon-coating. An Indian man took us around and explained parts of the place of worship to us, glad to be able to practice his English with us.
Kelly's strangely good sense of direction brought us home, where we had a hilarious dinner just at the hotel. We sat and talked and laughed for a few hours straight before calling it a successful, colourful day.
DWC Student Team
Nepal May 2013
May 6, 2013
May 6: Meeting CPN - Creating Possibilities Nepal
Look! Casual hangouts talking welfare and development in Nepal. Thanks Creating Possibilities Nepal for a wonderful and delicious day.
Kelly Gerlings
DWC Student Team Leader
Nepal, May 2013
Kelly Gerlings
DWC Student Team Leader
Nepal, May 2013
May 6: Adventures with Public Transport in Nepal
This was a huge day for the team: our first experience on public transportation! We took two different "buses" to get to the Creating Possibilities office for our official orientation. The first bus was a little bit larger than a mini van, all decked out in colourful tassels and blaring some Nepali music. We had a guide sent from CP to direct us to which bus to take next because otherwise we would have had no idea where to go next.
The office was more like a house because it is also part hostel for some of the students CP supports as they attend school further from home. We got to meet Dinesh's wife, who is lovely and 7 months pregnant (congratulations!), and then Dinesh and Nura gave us a short presentation about Creating Possibilities and the work that they do. Everyone was really impressed with the amount of work and support CP does, especially with such a small team of employees. We got to meet some of the girls that CP has been working with and went on a tour of the house (which is a hostel, a house, an office and a flat for rent all in one). We had a delicious meal of yogurt, fruit and pounded, flattened, dried rice, which made the concoction taste like oatmeal.
Afterwards we went out and visited the Pashupatinath temple complex. It was overwhelming in terms of how much there was to see and take in, overwhelming but beautiful, between the funeral pyres, the elderly orphanage, and the colourful shrines and architecture. We crossed a lot of crazy busy streets and wandered under many prayer flags to get there and to return. We are pretty accomplished at crossing some of those streets!
Back at the offices, we had a wonderful meal of dhal baat and pickles, which Bailey, Katie and Kelly "lived on the edge" and ate with their hands. With some more practice, we will all be accomplished rice-hand eaters!
Our journey home at the end of day was an adventure and a half on public buses (about 15 cents Canadian for a ride) at night. We squished and squeezed in beside the Nepali commuters, them sharing private laughs at our tourist expense. What a thrill! We have decided that our group tagline will be "living on the edge", whether it is in moves we make while playing cards, crossing the streets, or trying new things to eat.
Talk soon!
DWC Student Team
Nepal May 2013
The office was more like a house because it is also part hostel for some of the students CP supports as they attend school further from home. We got to meet Dinesh's wife, who is lovely and 7 months pregnant (congratulations!), and then Dinesh and Nura gave us a short presentation about Creating Possibilities and the work that they do. Everyone was really impressed with the amount of work and support CP does, especially with such a small team of employees. We got to meet some of the girls that CP has been working with and went on a tour of the house (which is a hostel, a house, an office and a flat for rent all in one). We had a delicious meal of yogurt, fruit and pounded, flattened, dried rice, which made the concoction taste like oatmeal.
Afterwards we went out and visited the Pashupatinath temple complex. It was overwhelming in terms of how much there was to see and take in, overwhelming but beautiful, between the funeral pyres, the elderly orphanage, and the colourful shrines and architecture. We crossed a lot of crazy busy streets and wandered under many prayer flags to get there and to return. We are pretty accomplished at crossing some of those streets!
Back at the offices, we had a wonderful meal of dhal baat and pickles, which Bailey, Katie and Kelly "lived on the edge" and ate with their hands. With some more practice, we will all be accomplished rice-hand eaters!
Our journey home at the end of day was an adventure and a half on public buses (about 15 cents Canadian for a ride) at night. We squished and squeezed in beside the Nepali commuters, them sharing private laughs at our tourist expense. What a thrill! We have decided that our group tagline will be "living on the edge", whether it is in moves we make while playing cards, crossing the streets, or trying new things to eat.
Talk soon!
DWC Student Team
Nepal May 2013
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